登陆注册
5380500000202

第202章

LETTERS 1894.A WINTER IN NEW YORK.BUSINESS FAILURE.

END OF THE MACHINE

The beginning of the new year found Mark Twain sailing buoyantly on a tide of optimism.He believed that with H.H.Rogers as his financial pilot he could weather safely any storm or stress.He could divert himself, or rest, or work, and consider his business affairs with interest and amusement, instead of with haggard anxiety.He ran over to Hartford to see an amateur play; to Boston to give a charity reading; to Fair Haven to open the library which Mr.Rogers had established there; he attended gay dinners, receptions, and late studio parties, acquiring the name of the "Belle of New York." In the letters that follow we get the echo of some of these things.The Mrs.Rice mentioned in the next brief letter was the wife of Dr.Clarence C.Rice, who had introduced H.H.Rogers to Mark Twain.

To Mrs.Clemens, in Paris:

Jan.12, '94

Livy darling, I came down from Hartford yesterday with Kipling, and he and Hutton and I had the small smoking compartment to ourselves and found him at last at his ease, and not shy.He was very pleasant company indeed.He is to be in the city a week, and I wish I could invite him to dinner, but it won't do.I should be interrupted by business, of course.

The construction of a contract that will suit Paige's lawyer (not Paige)turns out to be very difficult.He is embarrassed by earlier advice to Paige, and hates to retire from it and stultify himself.The negotiations are being conducted, by means of tedious long telegrams and by talks over the long-distance telephone.We keep the wires loaded.

Dear me, dinner is ready.So Mrs.Rice says.

With worlds of love, SAML.

Clemens and Oliver Wendell Holmes had met and become friends soon after the publication of Innocents Abroad, in 1869.Now, twenty-five years later, we find a record of what without doubt was their last meeting.

It occurred at the home of Mrs.James T.Field.

To Mrs.Clemens, in Paris:

BOSTON, Jan.25, '94.

Livy darling, I am caught out worse this time than ever before, in the matter of letters.Tuesday morning I was smart enough to finish and mail my long letter to you before breakfast--for I was suspecting that I would not have another spare moment during the day.It turned out just so.

In a thoughtless moment I agreed to come up here and read for the poor.

I did not reflect that it would cost me three days.I could not get released.Yesterday I had myself called at 8 and ran out to Mr.Rogers's house at 9, and talked business until half past 10; then caught 11o'clock train and arrived here at 6; was shaven and dressed by 7 and ready for dinner here in Mrs.Field's charming house.

Dr.Oliver Wendell Holmes never goes out now (he is in his 84th year,)but he came out this time-said he wanted to "have a time" once more with me.

Mrs.Fields said Aldrich begged to come and went away crying because she wouldn't let him.She allowed only her family (Sarah Orne Jewett and sister) to be present, because much company would overtax Dr.Holmes.

Well, he was just delightful! He did as brilliant and beautiful talking (and listening) as ever he did in his life, I guess.Fields and Jewett said he hadn't been in such splendid form in years.He had ordered his carriage for 9.

The coachman sent in for him at 9; but he said, "Oh, nonsense!--leave glories and grandeurs like these? Tell him to go away and come in an hour!"At 10 he was called for again, and Mrs.Fields, getting uneasy, rose, but he wouldn't go--and so we rattled ahead the same as ever.Twice more Mrs.Fields rose, but he wouldn't go--and he didn't go till half past 10--an unwarrantable dissipation for him in these days.He was prodigiously complimentary about some of my books, and is having Pudd'nhead read to him.I told him you and I used the Autocrat as a courting book and marked it all through, and that you keep it in the sacred green box with the love letters, and it pleased him.

Good-bye, my dear darling, it is 15 minutes to dinner and I'm not dressed yet.I have a reception to-night and will be out very late at that place and at Irving's Theatre where I have a complimentary box.I wish you were all here.

SAML.

In the next letter we meet James J.Corbett--"Gentleman Jim," as he was sometimes called--the champion pugilist of that day.

The Howells incident so amusingly dramatized will perhaps be more appreciated if the reader remembers that Mark Twain himself had at intervals been a mind-healing enthusiast.Indeed, in spite of his strictures on Mrs.Eddy, his interest in the subject of mind-cure continued to the end of his life.

To Mrs.Clemens, in Paris:

Sunday, 9.30 a.m.

Livy dear, when we got out to the house last night, Mrs.Rogers, who is up and around, now, didn't want to go down stairs to dinner, but Mr.R.

persuaded her and we had a very good time indeed.By 8 o'clock we were down again and bought a fifteen-dollar box in the Madison Square Garden (Rogers bought it, not I,) then he went and fetched Dr.Rice while I(went) to the Players and picked up two artists--Reid and Simmons--and thus we filled 5 of the 6 seats.There was a vast multitude of people in the brilliant place.Stanford White came along presently and invited me to go to the World-Champion's dressing room, which I was very glad to do.

Corbett has a fine face and is modest and diffident, besides being the most perfectly and beautifully constructed human animal in the world.

I said:

"You have whipped Mitchell, and maybe you will whip Jackson in June--but you are not done, then.You will have to tackle me."He answered, so gravely that one might easily have thought him in earnest:

"No--I am not going to meet you in the ring.It is not fair or right to require it.You might chance to knock me out, by no merit of your own, but by a purely accidental blow; and then my reputation would be gone and you would have a double one.You have got fame enough and you ought not to want to take mine away from me."Corbett was for a long time a clerk in the Nevada Bank in San Francisco.

同类推荐
  • 蓝公案

    蓝公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 憨休禅师语录

    憨休禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 医学真传

    医学真传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说五无反复经

    佛说五无反复经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 刘河间伤寒医鉴

    刘河间伤寒医鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 温暖一生的记忆

    温暖一生的记忆

    古往今来,一切闪光的人生,有价值的人生,都是在顽强拼搏和不懈进取中获得的。
  • 师门至上

    师门至上

    十年前,她一把刀血洗了坐仙台十年后,这个仇家遍地的仙门煞星竟然夺舍重生成了一个……弱鸡……众人大吃一惊,她竟然还敢回来!来来来,大家排好队不要急有仇报仇有怨报怨,一个也不会落下。………
  • 慈幼新书

    慈幼新书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 别人家孩子的治愈史

    别人家孩子的治愈史

    每个人的心灵深处,都会藏着一些人或事,伴随着欢欣与悲戚。家人在他们心中或许是这个世界上最利刃的剑,直刺进心脏,疼痛至消亡。她们三个青梅,他们两个足马,因为感同身受,因为惺惺相惜,因为被伤害过的孩子只能互相舔舐伤口、互相取暖、互相依靠。一路上有报复、有阴谋、有喜怒哀乐,但是他们有幸相遇,携手用爱情、友情、亲情来治愈心底无法抹平的疮疤。爱原本就该是幸福,所以,我们幸福给别人看。
  • 这世上和我一样的傻瓜

    这世上和我一样的傻瓜

    为好友打抱不平的大学女生蓝之华,因为一时头脑发热竟当众招惹贵为校草的尤物男——丁子宪。从仇人到莫逆,从针锋相对的现实生活到爆笑连连的网游世界,暧昧升级,一路心跳。满以为初恋告捷的蓝之华却忽然发现——什么,之前不过是一场误会?那接下来……该怎么收场?
  • 前世今生之上上签

    前世今生之上上签

    正经文案:【女主痞帅+男主燃炸,多重身份+甜宠+虐你肝疼+权谋+宫斗+宅斗,总之就是斗斗斗……】 她,从小跟着老爹在死人堆里“打滚”,每天做着最危险的事情,也就图个温饱…… 他,生而尊贵却低调内敛,却是当朝最“善战”的皇子,心怀天下…… 他们虽然有着云泥之别,可他偏偏却宠她入骨,却还是没有抵过那至高的权利,她悔:如有来生,永远不要记得你! ———————— 再次为人,她是‘歧月国’最高贵的公主,却逃脱不了和亲的命运, 紧跟‘太子’一位一步之遥的他,却答应了父皇的和亲条件,成全了他心目中的家国天下… 亲眼见到至亲之人惨死在他的剑下,她转身跳下那极渊之地:若有来生,不要再爱你。 —————— 可是来生,她不仅最先动了心,却爱的义无反顾,却又偏偏记起了一切…… 阅文指南(公子真心话):俗话说‘无虐不成书’,本文甜+虐同行(权当给大家排个雷先),女主不傻,但是白,有点甜。看多了纯甜文(牙疼)的宝宝们可以支持公子给个收藏+评论~
  • 总裁,引你入局

    总裁,引你入局

    她做的最叛逆的事,刚满18岁,嫁给了比她大十二岁的他,强占了让所有人都骄傲的帝国总裁。父亲指责她,哥哥弟弟都恨她,继母气得差点露出真面目,她以为终于给了那些人最致命的一击,以为终于引他入了局!却没想到,她被他残忍地拖入了另外一个局!再归来,她要让所有人好看!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 灵宝净明院行遣式

    灵宝净明院行遣式

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不可不知的犹太人经商智慧

    不可不知的犹太人经商智慧

    在人生的道路上,不知要经历多少的坎坷。每一次的成功,也许都要经历唐僧取经般的九九八十一难。如果我们的生命真有无限长的话,即使把所有的路都走一遍都无所谓,但事实是生命有限,人生苦短,人生真正能够做事的时间不过是短短的几十年。鉴于此,我们编著了这套《不可不知丛书》,作为读者朋友面对现实生活的一面旗帜,来感召和激励人生,共同朝着美好的未来前进。
  • 老师,请宠我

    老师,请宠我

    她为了救一个孩子,死在富二代的飞车之下,不料却机缘巧合,不仅起死回生,拥有了一项异能;还得到了一份优渥的高中教师的职业。可是当她欣喜的踏进那所高中的大门时,才明白这份工作充满挑战性,且看自强独立的异能女教师——如何运用头脑和智慧,凭借坚韧不拔的毅力,与天斗与地斗与人斗,拼出一片天空,爱情与事业双丰收!///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////酒醉之后,一夜纵情,万千旖旎。清醒之后当她拖着娇软胀痛的身子怒视着昨夜生猛狂霸如龙、而此刻却羞怯乖顺如羊的某人时——“我……我第一次做这种事,难免会没轻没重的,你别生气,下次……下次就好了……”某人终于笨拙的开口。“你还想有下次?”她吼。“当然,最好每天都做!”某人紧紧盯着她那酡红的丽颜很快的答道。“做你个大头鬼,混蛋,你去死——”为人师表的她终于忍不住连爆粗口。……*******************************************************莫俊烈——行在边缘的少年,成长在血腥暴力之中,桀骜偏执。他在人生低谷中遇到她,是她用自己的温情和关爱,伴他走过生命中的阴霾,让他冷硬的心被她所感化。当他青涩退去,功成名就、风华无限时,誓要给她一份真正的幸福。他说:我哪里小了,一点都不小,不信你……你摸摸!他说:木糖醇老师,就宠我一个人好不好?………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………席维彦——席氏的执行总裁,处心积虑的阴谋家,一个沉凉冷魅的优质男。本是为探寻她的秘密而来,不料却将一颗心失落在她身上。在他与她之间展开了一场男与女、吸引与反吸引、征服与反征服的拉锯战,到底谁才是最后真正的赢家?他说:你也只不过是个女人而已,永远都是男人的身下物,如此坚持有意义吗?他说:输赢我都不在乎了,小狐狸,你还想逃吗?……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………席维语——自闭而病弱的少年,怯懦胆小,敏感抑郁。是她将他从那黑暗的心灵囚笼里带了出来,让他直面阳光,成为一个自信勇敢的男子汉。他说:你永远都是我最敬宠最爱慕的神仙姐姐,永远!